Calisthenics for children: 5 animal-style exercises kids will love

Should your child be doing calisthenics? The answer is yes, yes, yes. From bunny jumps to bear crawls, this fun workout for kids will help build natural strength in little ones.

Are calisthenics for children? Of course! Ever feel like it’s harder to do movements that were once simple as a child? Jumping, pulling, pushing, twisting, rolling, balancing, squatting, cartwheeling, hanging. For youngsters, it comes naturally and playfully. Whether they’re clambering through the obstacle course at the park or jumping on a bouncy castle, it’s an effortless interaction between their bodies and the world they live in.

While the concept of calisthenics can seem rigorous and boot-camp-like, it’s actually these kinds of movements we’re talking about. Put simply, calisthenics is a form of exercise which uses the weight of the body to build muscle - push-ups, pull-ups, squats, sit-ups and so on. Children need to stay active on a regular basis to avoid chronic movement deficiencies in later life: calisthenics will help their strength, mobility, flexibility, agility and endurance.

If you’re a parent, you’ll know how difficult it is to get your child to eat a carrot - never mind do a pull-up. It’s important not to force them to do the exercises, but encourage it and lead by example. Better they get into the natural flow of it now than try and regain the body strength and endurance as they get older. Little ones love to use their imagination when they play, so here are some fun, animal-style exercises you can practice to get them into the swing of things: